Architects, Builders and Engineers TOWN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. An important meeting of the Town Planning Associa tion was held last week under the presidency of Mr. John Sulinan, F.R.I. B.A. The matter of the deputation to the Premier was given further consideration. The forth coming tour of the English town planners, under the auspices of the Town Planning and Garden Cities' Association was discussed. It was decided to heartily co-operate, and to agree to the office of the Town Planning Association, 17 Grosvenor Street, Sydney, being the head quarters of the visitors during their ..Australian tour. All correspondence in connection with the tour may, there fore, be so addressed.

WHEN MANKIND IS 'BROKE.' The Mayoral Motah-as an Example. Mankind assumes its most ludicrous vagaries when 'broke:' So soon as penury sits on the front door mat, pride enters by the side window. Then the individual affected, be he belted earl or ordinary joker, is obsessed with the one idea — 'keeping up appearances.' When Smith, the little struggling draper, of Poverty Place, takes his wife in the front stalls, and ia aiiuscijuciiLiy seen m supper, pcupic usk. wiLll a significant wink : 'Hello ! What's wrong with Smith? When Bloggs, the local meat men — who rose from the abattoirs to master-butchership through the medium of 'Tatts' — is seen inspecting a motor car, people similarly wink and' whisper. Next day both those local magnates are sur prised to receive their accounts earlier than .usual, and to note a steely glare in the collective public! eye. Perhaps Smith and Bloggs are financially 'A.I.,'' but experience has taught a prosaic public to view sudden outward signs of afflue...

A NATIONAL ROA'DS CONFERENCE. Under this title the 'S.M. Herald/' of the 19th inst, wrote : — One of the most useful fixtures for the year J9J.-1 is a National Roads Conference, which will be held in Sydney at the coming Easter season. In view of the proposal made recently in the columns of the 'Herald' for a special conference of experts to deal with the whole question of road construction, 11 is cnecring 10 nnci mar. me roau engineers ineni Selves are about to confer, and give the public the benefit of their knowledge. The 'Local Government Journal,' the organ of the local government engineers, published particu lars of the project in a recent issue. It says: — 'Roads bear more vital relation to the national weal of Australasia than, perhaps, to any otlier con tinent. Our very expansiveness, geographical situation, and the fact that we draw our wealth from the soil, account for this. Roads, in their arterial relation to the centres of distribution are among the chief factors of ou...

MORE 'USELESS REGRET.' Great were the regrets in Leichhardt Council (N.S.W.), when Town Clerk Hargraves decided to transfer his services to Ash field. The Mayor paid the officer a fine tribute in the annual report. Why did'not he, however, suggest that the council make it Avorth Avhile for such a valuable officer to remain? And if the Mayor did, why didn't the council have the good sense to act on it? Leichhardt is not the only council which has missed that point.

THE CANBERRA COMMISSION. It comes with pleasing satis- ?' faction to us, that the Prime Minister has signified his approval of our .: suggestion that the building of the Federal city and the development of the territory should ? lie con trolled anci/ciirectea Dy a com mission of experts. We are also certain that the decision will find general approval with the main body of Australians who are influenced, by broad national sentiments more than narrow sectional ? prejudices and anti-national -.'^'personal motives. The Prime. .Minister directly stated that 'no, good could be done with the' Federal capital unless it were taken out of the j hands of the Government.' This was in reply to the re quest of a .deputation repre senting the, 'Associated Cham bers of Manufactures, who had the matter brought before them by Mr. Alfred Wunderlich at their recent conference. Pre viously we had set out in a special and comprehensive arti cle in 'Building' for August (1913), ways and means by which Ca...

TOWN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. The Town Planning Association, although of comparatively recent birth, has already accom plished some remarkably fine service. The constitution has been framed so as to em brace every avenue of activity to which town planning can be applied. What is described as 'the civic conscience' is being awakened by the propaganda work, although to the present it has necessarily being limited. The address delivered by Sir William Lever, under the auspices of the Association^ attracted an overflowing audience— overflowing in point of numbers and- enthusiasm. The citizens on that ? occasion learnt much of town planning and realised its advantages. .... - The Association, through its various committees, is also in a position to keep in constant touch with current events, and has been' in communication with official bodies* -on: matters of importance to the public weal. The official recognition accorded the Association hasi been', most satisfactory, and' its membership- ...

THE ARCHITECTS' NEW PRESIDENT. N.S.W. Architects, who are members of the Institute of Architects, have unanimously chosen Mr. A. W. Anderson (McCredie &amp; Anderson) as President for the next two years. We ? can justly say that he deserves the position on the score of past faithful service, and that as a hardworking enthusiast the Institute has no superior. '?? His administrative capacity has yet to be proved. Of course, he can proceed along the same old traditional lines1-? o'f ftis predecessors,'^ and be acclaimed a success by a small attendance at the close of his term. But it is confidently expected that he will do something more; that he will fix definite objectives and follow them up to some practical purpose. No member of the Institute knows in ore of its actual -wants _ than the new President. No one is more ready to serve it. But, as we explained, the service will have to be along entirely different lines to the past. We wish Mr. Anderson every success, and trust that ...

His Message to the Profession, 1 deeply appreciate the honor conferred upon me by my election to the Presiden tial Chair of the New South Wales Insti tute of Architects. Addressing the profession generally, 1 desire to say that the immediate future appears to me to be full of rich possibili ties. for our general advancement, in the way of obtaining recognised legal status through registration. By this means, the profession would be placed in a position ? more analogous io inatui iaw anu.mcui ' cine,' and its importance and influence recognised. ? ';. The rapid development of the; State, not ,. only in the metropolis,'. but in the larger . .^'country towns, is.aft'ording ever widening .' 'scope, for the exercise ro.f .architectural ability. . The awakening of the . ,ci.vic '' conscience in- regard Jo, town planning . and^the.beautification of the urban areas will afford opportunities which* up to. the present, have been, . if not altogether . , neglected, certainly,, to a very large ...

| GOVERNMENT jS8Si|if NOTICES. I Department of Public Works, 1 Sydney, February 27, 1914. ] TENDERS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND SUPPLIES. TENDERS for the Works, etc.. specified below will be received at this Department until 2 o'clock p.m. on the .dates mentioned: — MARCH 9. 1914. ' Additions and Improvements to Police. Buildings, IMarengo. Renewals and Repairs, Police Station, Mulgoa. Manufacture, etc., of 40 Side-Tipping and 20. End-Tipping Muck' Waggons. Erection of Boat Shed, and Slip, Pilot Station, Camden Haven. Fresh Tenders. .- „' ? ,-,-. , MARCH 23,. 1914. Construction of Approaches to Newcastle to _ Stockton Vehicular Ferry. ' MARCH 30, 1914. ? . . Supply and Delivery of Pumping Plants, driven by Oil Engines. ARTHUR GRIFFITH. (Oa-171) ? A .... . 1 Department of Public Instruction, TENDERS FOR SCHOOL WORKS. j, ? I TENDERS for the Works specified below will be ' received at this Department until 2 o'clock p.m. on the | dates mentioned. Envelopes should be endorsed 'Ten- der for (st...